Important note: Information in this article was accurate in 2002. The state of the art may have changed since the publication date.
Sunday Times (Johannesburg) - December 8, 2002
Ranjeni Munusamy
He said public representatives should "talk to their constituencies on how to prevent Aids" and make them aware about "cocktails which can help" to treat the disease.
Mandela said the release this week of the results of a study by his foundation and the Human Sciences Research Council into the spread of HIV had provided valuable information on the disease.
The study found that 11.4% of South Africans over two years of age - about 4.5 million people - are infected with HIV.
Of the 8 428 people who consented to be tested for HIV through saliva specimens, 12.8% of women and 9.5% of men tested HIV-positive.
The highest prevalence was among the 25 to 29 age group - 28%. About 24% of people between the ages of 30 and 34 are HIV-positive and 15.6% of those aged 15 to 49 are infected.
KwaZulu-Natal, which became known internationally as the region with the highest HIV-infection rate, was found to rank fourth in terms of HIV prevalence after the Free State, Gauteng and Mpumalanga.
The study also found that 95% of those surveyed supported the provision of antiretroviral drugs .
The Nelson Mandela Foundation and the SA Medical Association launched an HIV/Aids treatment programme this week to provide free antiretroviral treatment to 9 000 public-sector patients at 18 sites countrywide.
Mandela said it was important to "leave people with hope".
"We thought it was very important to have conclusive, scientific information about the spread of HIV. Information is the first step. What we do on the ground is now important," Mandela said.
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